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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 72, 12 August 1912, Page 4

DUMP, ANIMALS. We hope that the people of New Plymouth will not allow the timely words of the Rev. A. 11. Colvile lo fall upon deaf ears, but will make some immediate and practical effort to establish the suggested branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It is, as he says, a responsibility that rests emphatically and directly with the townspeople. But we cannot agree with Mr. Colvile's reservation that there is possibly no immediate necessity for such an organisation in our midst. There is such a necessity, and one that is gravely urgent. Anybody who walks our streets with any discernment must be struck daily by the manner in which dozens of horses are abused. 111-fed and poor in type and condition, some of these animals are forced to negotiate heavy loads up the steep gradients which are unfortunately our portion by the unmerciful use of whip and spur in a manner that is unqualifiedly cruel, as personal observation should specdly convince any doubter. We do not for one moment suggest that this cruelty is caused by deliberated hard-heartedness. It is more the result of thoughtlessness, but such thoughtlessness is just a3 reprehensible as the more serious form of callousness. Nor is this particular.neglect' confined to horses only, though naturally these patient beasts of burden are the greatest sufferers. There is far too much wanton carelessness in the manner in which other domestic animals are treated. The merciful man is proverbial merciful to his teast, and when he ceases to be so, whether wilfully or unthinkingly, he loses all claim to the title. It only requires the stimulation of a strong public feeling to remove this reproach from our midst, and we can imagine no better method for achieving this object than that suggested 'by ;Mr. Colvile. A very small contribution annually from the residents of the town would enable a practical system of regular inspection to be inaugurated, and one or two healthy interferences and prosecutions where necessary would spe.edily very materially alleviate the existing condition of things. The society has done such excellent work in other centres that it is a reflection on our public spiritedness that it should not be represented here.